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GPS 39.63222761469957, -8.671898107279056

The Basilica of Nossa Senhora do Rosário (commonly called the Basilica of the Rosary) is a basilica that integrates the Sanctuary of Fátima, located in Cova da Iria, in Fátima, in the municipality of Ourém, in Portugal.

The Basilica of the Rosary began to be built in 1928, in neo-baroque style, according to a project by the Dutch architect Gerardus Samuel van Krieken. It stands in the place where the Little Shepherds were playing making a small stone wall when they saw the flash that made them think it was a thunderstorm, on May 13, 1917. The first stone was blessed by the Archbishop of Évora, D.Manuel da Conceição Santos, in 1928, and the consecration took place on October 7, 1953. In 1954 it was granted the title of Minor Basilica, by Pope Pius XII.

The building, which measures 70.5 meters long and 37 meters wide, was built entirely with stone from the region (place of Moimento) and the altars are made of marble from Estremoz, Pero Pinheiro and Fátima.

In front of the Basilica of the Rosary, a large tribune was installed, with an altar, presidency, ambo and benches for the concelebrants.

The bell tower is 65 m high, topped by a bronze crown weighing 7000 kg, built in the foundry in Bolhão, Porto, topped by a cross, illuminated at night.

The carillon is made up of 62 bells, cast and tempered in Fátima by Manuel Gonçalves. The largest bell weighs 3,000 kg and the clapper 90 kg. The clock is the work of Bento Rodrigues, from Braga. The angels on the marble façade were designed by Albano França.

On May 13, 1958, a large statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary sculpted by Fr. Thomas McGlynn under the direction of Sister Lucia. It is 4.73 m tall and weighs 13 tons. This image, offered by American Catholics, evokes the content of the message referring to devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which Our Lady alluded to in the first three apparitions of Cova da Iria and in the apparitions of Pontevedra: the devotion of the five first Saturdays, the consecration of Russia and the triumph of her Immaculate Heart. On June 13, 1959 it was placed in the niche on the façade of the basilica.

At the entrance to the Basilica, above the main door, there is a mosaic representing the Holy Trinity crowning Our Lady. It was executed in the Vatican workshops and blessed there by the then Secretary of State, Cardinal Eugénio Paccelli, future Pope Pius XII.

The 15th mystery, a stone bas-relief, in the chancel's apse, represents the Holy Trinity crowning Our Lady. It is by Maximiano Alves.

At the entrance to the Basilica, on the right side, there is an image of S. João Eudes, founder of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudistas) and of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge (also by Martinho de Brito). On the left side, the statue of Santo Estevão, the first king of Hungary, crowned in the year 1000, who consecrated his nation to Our Lady, by António do Amaral de Paiva.

The tombs of the brothers Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto are found respectively at the far right and left of the transept.

The temple has two sacristies, one of which was converted into a place of worship, with the name Capela de São José.

Each of the 14 side altars represents a mystery of the Rosary, the golden bas-reliefs placed there are by the then Young Sculptor Martinho de Brito. The coronation of Nossa Senhora de Fátima, on May 13, 1946, and the closing of the Holy Year, on October 13, 1951, are evoked on two tombstones at the entrance to the main chapel.

The chancel arch has a mosaic all around it, which reads Regina Sacratissimi Rosarii Fatimae ora pro nobis.

On the right side of the chancel is the statue of São Domingos de Gusmão, the great apostle of the rosary in the 13th century (authored by Maria Amélia Carvalheira da silva). On the left side, Santo António Maria Claret, founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Heart of Mary (authored by Martinho de Brito).

Behind the balustrade, there is an image of Our Lady of Fátima. In the center, a large stone altar with a silver front, representing the Last Supper of Christ. The ambo, the pedestal with the image of Our Lady and the presidency chairs are made from the same altar stone. The frame of the altarpiece represents the Message of Our Lady that descends, in the form of light and peace, to meet the seers, prepared by the Angel. Authored by Arch. Joao de Sousa Araujo. In the upper right corner are popes Pius XII, John XXIII and Paul VI. On the opposite side, three angels.

The chancel's stained glass windows represent the four evangelists, the apparition of the Angel, a scene from the life of the shepherd children, and aspects of Cova da Iria on a pilgrimage day. They are authored by Arch. Joao de Sousa Araujo.

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